Today, we bring you the words from His Holiness Pope John Paul II from his two most recent Angelus addresses; the first in New Delhi, India after officially closing the Asian Synod and celebrating an outdoor Mass in New Delhi's stadium. The Holy Father called on Our Lady by her many titles and, though the Pope showed signs of tiredness, because of this most recent self-imposed marathon that took him to the extreme temperatures of India and Georgia, imposed on himself and which on several occasions he had to be helped to walk by those accompanying him, he still took time to greet Indians who were waving handkerchiefs in an effort to catch his attention. He waved back to them and got a thunderous applause when he concluded his short Angelus with special remembrance of Mother Teresa. The second is from yesterday on the occasion of Thanksgiving Day in Italy in which the Bishop of Rome gave thanks and asked special prayers for the victims of two devastating fatal plane crashes and the 7.2 earthquake last week in Turkey. The full English text was translated and provided by ZENIT news agency, article ZE99110720 and ZE99111420.
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Angelus Addresses for Sunday November 7 and November 14
Angelus Address at the Official Close of the Asian Synod from November 7, 1999
Last Sunday in India, the Holy Father delivered his Angelus to about 60,000 at an outdoor stadium dedicated to the memory of Jawaharlel Nehru on the Indian feast of "Diwali"
which represents victory of life over death through the festival of light in defeating the darkness. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was the perfect complement to this for Christ conquered death and gives us everlasting life through His Death and Resurrection and the remembrance of Him in consecration of the bread and wine into His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. The Pope also shed light on a radiant memory of Mother Teresa extolling her as forever India's own.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
At the end of this Eucharistic celebration, we turn with confidence to
Mary, Mother of God. Two thousand years ago the Blessed Virgin gave birth
to the incarnate Word on Asian soil. Today, Mary continues to cooperate in
the birth and growth of divine life in the souls of the baptized. In their
daily lives, may the Church's sons and daughters follow the example of
Mary, imitating her ability to discern God's will in every circumstance;
her total self-offering in love; her boundless fidelity and tireless
devotion; her strength, capable of bearing the greatest sorrows;
her capacity always to speak words of support and encouragement.
To you, Mother of the Church, we entrust the results of the Special
Assembly for Asia of the Synod of Bishops: lead the Church in Asia in the
joyful proclamation of faith in Jesus Christ our Saviour, and in generous
service to the peoples of this continent.
To you, Model of Holiness, we entrust the clergy, the consecrated men and
women, and the laity of the Church in Asia: renew and sustain them in a
spirit of zeal and in their commitment to the great task of evangelization
and service.
To you, Mirror of Justice, we entrust those responsible for the destiny of
this continent: may they seek tirelessly the common good, and work for the
true spiritual and material development of the peoples of this continent.
To you, Mother of Mercy, we entrust the poor, the needy and the suffering:
teach us to be one in spirit with them, in order to serve them as our
brothers and sisters.
To you, Mother of the Redeemer, we entrust the young people of Asia: to
them the Church offers the truth of the Gospel as a joyful and liberating
message, and asks them to use their freshness and enthusiasm, their spirit
of solidarity and hope as peacemakers in a divided world.
Mary, Mother of the New Creation, pray for us, your children, now and always!
After the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father added:
God bless you all. From this land which preserves the mortal remains of
Mother Teresa of Calcutta, show the whole Church that you never forget her
witness of evangelical love especially towards the poorest of the poor.
Mother Teresa loves India, she is with the people of India forever.
Yesterday at St. Peter's in Rome, the Holy Father delivered his Angelus to pilgrims gathered in the Square and dedicated it to the victims of the Egyptian plane crash last week, the most recent earthquake in Turkey, and the devastating crash of the humanitarian flight to Kosovo which L'Osservatore Romano called the "Shuttle of Hope." The Pope called it just one more wound in the post-war agony of Kosovo. It was a sober finale to what should be a celebration for Sunday was the Italian Thanksgiving.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
1. Today Italy celebrates Thanksgiving Day, which invites us to thank God
for the fruits of the earth. At the end of one agricultural season, and the
beginning of another, we implore divine blessings on the countryside and on
the rural world, so that the Lord will help all those dedicated to work in
the fields. While I express heartfelt appreciation to those who are
intensely dedicated to agricultural activity, which is indispensable for
the survival of the whole of humanity, I request the authorities and public
opinion to consider with determined solidarity the need and expectations of
the rural populations.
May this Day, which has been celebrated for almost fifty years in Italy,
encourage renewed attention in their regard. May the recurrence of this Day
be an occasion to better appreciate creation, which God has entrusted to
men to cultivate and safeguard as a precious gift.
2. To the thanksgiving to the Lord for the fruits of the earth, I would
like to add thanksgiving for my recent pilgrimage in India and in Georgia,
of which I shall be able to speak next Wednesday, during the general
audience. This important spiritual experience is a further stage in the
road of the new evangelization toward the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000.
I also thank God for the ecumenical celebration that took place yesterday
in the Vatican Basilica, in memory of Saint Bridget. During that sacred
rite, the prayer of Christ in the Cenacle kept resounding in my mind: "Ut
unum sint." Let us continue to walk on the road Christ has pointed out, in
the hope of being able to reach the full unity of all believers as soon as
possible.
May Mary, Mother of the Church, sustain us in this effort.
3. I cannot but recall some disasters and catastrophes of the past days:
the collapse of the apartment house in Foggia, burying numerous families in
the rubble; an airplane of the World Food Program that crashed in Kosovo,
with well-deserving volunteers on board; there has been another violent
earthquake in Turkey, following the one in the month of August; a couple of
weeks ago an airplane of Air Egypt crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. I ask
you to pray for the numerous victims and express my closeness and
solidarity to all those who are suffering because of these enormous
tragedies. At the same time, I encourage the effort of rescue, help and
solidarity, which was immediately and generously manifested, and which
merits heartfelt appreciation.
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